Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
  • A61C19/00—Dental auxiliary appliances
  • A61C19/04—Measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry
  • A61C19/043—Depth measuring of periodontal pockets; Probes therefor

Definitions

• This invention relates to periodontal probes and more particularly to a constant pressure periodontal probe which indicates when a desired insertion pressure is achieved.
• Periodontal probes are used to test the depth of a pocket which exists between a tooth and a gum.
• the pocket is formed as a result of progressive gingival inflammation. Once formed, the periodontal pocket provides a sheltered environment for pathogenic microbial colonies, which may cause further connective tissue destruction.
• the depth measurement indicates whether periodontal disease is present and to what extent; the deeper the pocket, the less attachment there is between the tooth and gum and more likely it is that treatment is required.
• U.S. Patent numbers 4,768,952, 4,886,454, and 4,764,114 use a needle-like tip.
• the tip is inserted until the bottom of the pocket is reached, with the tester relying on the resistance to insertion to feel the bottom of the pocket.
• the tip usually has markings to indicate the depth of the pocket. Pocket depths over about three millimeters indicate that treatment should be undertaken. Two or three readings may be taken per tooth and a history developed to note changes in pocket depth to determine if progressive pocket enlargement is apparent.
• a problem with periodontal probing is that, to be accurate, the pressure used to push down the probe tip into the pocket must be the same for each test. In addition, the force applied must be less than would cause the tip to pierce the pocket, damaging the tissue and giving an erroneous reading. If different pressure is applied at different locations or during subsequent probing, the readings will vary and the test results become meaningless.
• the World Health Organization has determined that a pressure of about 20 grams should be used as the standard insertion pressure. This is the level at which the probe overcomes the resistance caused by the gum mating with the tooth, yet prevents the probe tip from piercing the bottom of the periodontal pocket. This is a very low value compared to the amount of pressure which could be applied during insertion and it is very difficult to feel when that level of pressure has been reached. By monitoring probing done during a typical examination, it was determined that testers routinely applied double or triple this amount of force without being aware of it.
• a periodontal probe having a handle, a probing portion extending from an end of the handle, and a backing portion, extending from the end of the handle adjacent to but spaced away from the probe portion.
• the probing portion has a needle-like probing tip which may optionally including markings to indicate depth of insertion.
• This tip is connected to the handle through a flexible joint, preferable shaped and tapered to allow the tip and arm to flex in an arc about the joint as the resistance to insertion increases.
• the backing portion is separated from the probing portion by a gap, the backing portion providing a stop to limit the travel of the probing portion. The gap is of sufficient width such that when the portions touch, a desired constant pressure is indicated. At that point, the tester reads the depth of insertion. Such a probe assures that an accurate reading is taken, and that all subsequent tests are taken at the same insertion pressure.
• Fig. 1 is a side view of the constant pressure probe of the present invention.
• Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the probe of Fig.l.
• Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the probe taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
• Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view of the probe of Fig. 1.
• Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the end of the probe tip.
• a constant pressure probe 1 has a handle 2 , a probing portion 3 and a backing portion 4.
• the handle may be round or shaped to provide effective hand manipulation of the probe.
• the probe is made of plastic or metal, with plastic preferred as it allows the probe to be disposable.
• plastic preferred as it allows the probe to be disposable.
• materials of construction useable with the present invention are polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyetheri id (UltemTM) , steel, stainless steel, or combinations thereof. UltemTM is preferred as it has good strength properties while being sufficiently high temperature resistant to allow steriliz- ing.
• the probing portion 3 is joined at junction 5 to the handle 2.
• the probing portion 3 includes a needle-like tip 6 which extends from a corner 7.
• the corner 7 has an upwardly extending projection 8, and is attached through a first rigid section 9 to a flexing joint 10 through a second rigid section 11 to the junction 5.
• the flexing joint 10 provides a focal point for probe displacement when resistance to insertion is met.
• the flexing joint 10 is tapered and shaped to provide the weakest point between the sections 9 and 11 such that the resistance to probing causes the probe to travel in an arc about the flexing joint.
• a cross sectional view of the flexing joint 10 is shown.
• the flexing joint has two opposed flat surfaces 12 and 13, in the desired plane of travel, with the joint having rounded sides to provide a somewhat oblong shape.
• the flat surfaces provide weakening areas to assure movement in a planer direction in alignment with the backing portion. This guides the probe to prevent displacement in an angular direction, to assure contact with the backing portion.
• Other shapes and designs could be use to provide the flexing joint.
• the backing portion 4 is joined at an end 14 through the junction 5 to the handle 2.
• the backing portion 4 has a rigid arm 15 extending parallel to the first section 9 of the probing portion, extending adjacent to but spaced away from the probing portion. Both portions are co-planer and in alignment.
• the arm 15 has sufficient rigidity to prevent movement when a force greater than the desired probing insertion force is applied against it. This can be adjusted by increasing the thickness of the arm relative to the thickness of the probing portion.
• the backing portion has a tip 16 which is spaced away from the projection 8 of the probing portion. Thus, a gap 17 is provided therebetween.
• the gap 17 is sized to accommodate movement of the probing portion as the resistance to insertion causes the probing portion to move about the joint 10, with contact between the tip 16 and the projection 8 indicating that the desired pressure has been reached.
• the backing tip 16 provides a stop for receiving the projection 8.
• the projection 8 and tip 16 have tapered sides 18 and 19 respectively.
• the user may slightly twist the handle to flex the probing portion in an angular direction about the joint 5 and misaligned the tip and projection to increase the insertion pressure.
• the resistance to the displacement of the probe about the flexible joint increas- es, with the modulus and cross-section of the flexing joint determining the maximum amount of displacement allowable.
• the probing tip 6 has a ball end 20 which comprises a partial sphere with an inwardly curved edge 21.
• the roundness of the sphere allows ease of insertion of the tip between the gum and tooth, but on withdrawal, the edge 21 rides against the tooth surface so that the user may detect if a layer of subgingival calculus has built up on the tooth surface.
• the edge may engage the layer which the user can feel by the halting motion of the probe during withdrawal.
• the probe is preferably produced as a unitary structure to minimize cost and allow mass production by molding.
• the probe tip may be separately produced and be removable from the corner to allow replacement.
• the corner 7 may include a channel sized to accept an end of a separable needle-like tip, with suitable means provided for locking the tip in place.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Biophysics (AREA)
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
• Dentistry (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Dental Tools And Instruments Or Auxiliary Dental Instruments (AREA)
• Percussion Or Vibration Massage (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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Citations (5)

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• 1990
  • 1990-10-25 US US07/603,638 patent/US5112226A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1991
  • 1991-09-25 WO PCT/US1991/006994 patent/WO1992007524A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1991-09-25 BR BR919107031A patent/BR9107031A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1991-09-25 CA CA002094717A patent/CA2094717C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1991-09-25 AU AU89027/91A patent/AU642562B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1991-09-25 DE DE69115293T patent/DE69115293D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1991-09-25 AT AT91920044T patent/ATE131023T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1991-09-25 EP EP91920044A patent/EP0560797B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1991-09-25 JP JP3518340A patent/JP3005047B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1991-10-23 AR AR91320999A patent/AR247333A1/es active

Patent Citations (5)

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